Transformer cluster rack



S- J- WARD ET AL TRANSFORMER CLUSTER RACK Sept. 4, 195

a Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed March 30, 1953 INVENTORS} Samuel J Ward Mzlton C.Cross ATTORNEY P 1956 5. J. WARD ETAL 2,761,643

TRANSFORMER CLUSTER RACK Filed March 30, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Samuel J.WZzrd Mlton C. Cross- INVENTORS ATTORNEY Sept. 4, 1956 I 5. J. WARD ETAL2,761,643

TRANSFORMER CLUSTER RACK Filed March '30, 1953 a Sheets-Sheet s SamuelWizrd Milton C. Cross INVENTORS I ATTORNEY United States Patent2,761,643 TRANSFORMER CLUSTER RACK Samuel J. Ward and MiltonC. Cross,Houston, Tex., as-

sign'ors to Universal Pole Bracket Corporation, Houston, Tex.,acorporation of Texas Application March so, 1953, Serial No. 345,538

l 9 Claims. 7 (Cl. 248-230) This invention pertains to transformercluster racks and 1s a continuation-in-part of ourco-pending applicationS. N. 250,234, filed October 8, 1951, now abandoned.

It is. an object of the invention to provide a cluster and disconnected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack upon which aplurality of transformers maybe supported.

v i It is another object of. the invention to provide a cluster rack forpoles which may be quickly connected Another object of the invention isto provide a cluster rackwhich can be securely positioned regarding atelephone pole so that the transformers may be securely supportedthereon. A

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality .of relativelyclosely spaced cluster racks so that the support framework of thetransformer may be connected to adjacent cluster racks properly spacedso as to support the transformer closely adjacent the pole.

Another object of the invention is to providev a cluster rack fortransformers which may be firmly clamped about the pole withoutmaterially weakening the pole by boring, cutting, high localizedstresses,x-and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cluster rack to whichas many as three transformers may be supported while still leavingadequate climbing space for workmen on the pole. 3

Another object of the invention is to provide a cluster rack whichwithout change of size is capable of supportingeither small or largetransformers, so as to provide a maximum of utility with a minimumofmanufacturing cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cluster rack for poleswith an outstanding double arm to support a plate to which thetransformer is in turn connected, whereby the transformer will beadequately.sup-

ported against side thrusts such as that due to unequal tension in thewires connected to the transformer or due to wind blowing against thetransformer.

A still further object is to provide a brace for attachment to atransformer cluster rack so that relatively large transformers may beafiixed to the cluster rack and properly braced relative to thetelephone pole.

Another object 'is to provide a rack which without change of size of itsparts is adapted to be secured to poles of different diameters, and tothis end a further object of the invention is to provide a rack havingretaining bolts long enough to fasten the rack to a large diameter poleand having extending arms which have openings therein to allow forattachment of the rack to a relatively small diameter pole so that theretainer bolts "ice may project through the arms which support thetransformer.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent whenthe following description is considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a pole to which the cluster rackshave been attached and whereon three transformers are supported on apair of cluster racks suitably adjusted.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation to a larger scale showing two transformers,one large and one small, which are attached to a pair of spaced clusterracks which have been clamped about the pole.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation to a still larger scale of a portion of thedevice shown in Figure 2 and in which a brace has been afixed betweenthe supporting lug andthe transformer supporting plate to giveadditional strength to the bracket. Fig. 3 also shows a horizontal platebolted to the vertical supporting plate to provide spaced connectionsfor very large transformers having two horizontally spaced connectors ateach level. Also shown in Fig. 3 in phantom is a vertical plate usedwhen a very small transformer is supported from a single bracket.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 are similar transverse sections, Figure 5 being taken onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and looking down on cluster racks afiixed tosmall, medium, and large poles respectively.

In Fig. l, a pole 2 is shown as having been positioned in the ground andthe usual crossbar 3 serves to support wires. The pole is also shown asserving as a support for a plurality of transformers such as 4, 5, and

6 which may be used in connection with three phase power transmitted bythe wires.

This cluster of transformers is shown in Fig. 2 more in detail. Thetransformers are supported on the pole by the racks 8 and 9 which areidentical. Two such racks are provided about the pole each providingbrackets 10, 11, and 12 upon which the transformers 4, 5 and 6respectively are supported. a single pole may serve to support a numberof transformers and they may be securely fastened by using the racks 8and 9 in combination.

Fig. 5 is a transverse view through the pole and illustrating the mannerof assembling the racks on the pole for supporting the transformers. Thepole 2 is illustrated as receiving the rack 9 which is shown as beingmade up of a plurality of arcuate bodies in the form of straps or curvedplates 13, 14, 15, 16. Each of these plates comprises a bar or strap ofmetal which is arcuately curved to fit generally around the periphery ofthe pole 2. The initial curve is such as to fit a medium diameter poleas shown in Figure 5. Although the fit will not be perfect on smallerpoles as shown in Figure 4,

or larger poles as shown in Figure 6, the plates will tend strap isequal to 360 degrees divided by the number of straps, which is ninetydegrees.

It will be seen that the bolts are of sufficient length to go throughtwo of the cars 17 which may be spacedv apart depending upon thediameter of the pole 2. Each bolt 20 is arranged to receive thesupporting or back-up Patented Sept. 4, 1956 In this manner nuts 21behind the ears 17 and to receive the nuts 22 on theends. of. the boltto draw the ears 1-7 of the adjacent plates together. The nuts may beadjusted as desired so as to cause a tight fitting of the plates aboutthe pole.

-Rlate 13. is a; simple strap of steel with bent ends, to one or more ofeach of the other plates 14, 16' there are weldedthe' lateral projectingarms 25 and 26 which goto' make up; a bracket by having a supporti ri'gplate 27 welded tothe' arms and supporting them in: spaced relation.Each support plate 27 is provided witlr vertically spaced upper; andlower holes 23; 29 to receive the transformer bolts as hereinafterdescribed The double aims together with the curved plates andsupport:ing plates form a rigid boxlike structure of greatstrfength which cantakeaside thrusts: due to wind: or tension of-I the wire.

onl y'one ofuthe' racks suclras. the rack 9 is to be used, then it canbe assembled and the transformer or transformers supported on thevertical plates 30' which are. bolted; to'plate 27 aslshown in dottedlines in Figure 3. Plate 30 has holessuchas31 therein-vertically spacedtheproper distance to receive the transformer bolts. This arrangement issuitable for very small transformers. For larger transfomers it isnecessary to utilize two of the racks in spaced relationship upon thepole 2 as seen in- Fig,- 2 and the racks 8' and 9' will be thusemployed; Whenthe transformers are' connected, one of them may bea smalltransformer, such as 32while the other may be a large transformer suchas 33 or any suitable com-- bination of transformers.

'l'ihe. plates- 14; 15, 16,, are each provided with a lug such as; 40.extending. longitudinally along the pole and: arranged to receive thelag screws such as42whiehmay be driven into the pole. In thisrmanner therack. will be secur ly anchored and: any torque tending to twist therackf-romposition will be resisted by the lag screw 42.

In. Fig, 2 there is shown the manner of securing the transformers to theracks. Referring tortransformer 32 the upper bolt 43 of the transformerwill pass through the lower hole 29 of the plate 27 of the upper rackwhereas the bolt- 44 which is the lower bolt on the transformer willpass through: the hole 28 in the upper end of the plate 27 of the lowerrack. In the case of the large transformer 33 the bolts 43- and 44 willpass through the upper andlower openings in the plates 27 respectively.In thiswmannen two of the racks with, identical brackets 10,. 11, 12 onall three sides are adapted Without alteration to take care of differentsize transformers when utilized; at the same timeon the same pole.

Large transformers, such as the transformer 33, may weigh asmuchas fivethousand pounds. Hence, such transformers normallytend to exert agreater force-on theupper and lower cluster racks in a directiontocause; themto-slide, downwardly ofthe pole. This tendency iscounteracted when. the transformer is secured to thecluster racks in themanner shown atthe right handside ofjFig, 2, where the means forsecuring the lower end oflthe transformer to-the support or bridgingplate 27 is located at.- ahorizontallevel'below thelevel of theclampingbolts 20,. and the means: for securing. the upper end ofthetransform'er to the upper supportor bridgingplate 27 is locatedatahori'zontal level above the level of the bolts 2.0 which clamp thearcuate bodies of the upper bracket. set-to the. pole. With thetransformerso secured to. the upper and lower bracket sets, the arcuatebodies of both bracket sets are caused to'exert their maximum, clampingpressure against the pole along their lower edges and thustendfto biteinto the pole at those places. This. gives. maximum resistance to thetendency of the arcuate bodies 1310 slide downwardly of the pole.

Rarticular attention is directed to the opening. 48 in each of thebracket arms. This opening is to receive the ends of the bolt such aswhen an exceptionally small pole isutilized and the straps may be of alength, and'close enough together to. allow the bolt 2010 project 4 intothe opening 48. This will avoid cutting ofi the bolt orbending of theparts ast-hecasemayis illustrated in Figure 4. It is also to be notedthat in this situation the back-up nuts 21 are omitted, the cars 17being closely adjacent each other.

The openings perform an additional function in that they facilitatedeformation of. thecurved plates 13, 14, 15 and 16 as they are clampedagainst poles of different diameter whileweak ening the arms 2'5to aminimum extent. As shownin the drawings, the bracketsare-curved to fit apole of the diameter shownin- Fig,- 5; When. the brackets are clampedabouta pole. of; different. diameter,

I the openings facilitate the slightbending of the. arms which must takelace. Th'eo enin s preferati-y are elongated in the dlFBGflQILOf, thearms. 25 and are spaced from both the inner and outer ends of the arms.Hence, the openings lie in a relatively neutral area as far as theportions of the arms which take a strain in the supporting of tletransfermersa Attention is directed to the Brackets at the right of.Figure 2 sup er-tin the heavy t-ransformef33; If; the transformer is ofvery heavy weight there can be added the z-braeess which is a short fiatlate with thebe'nt ends 5-1 and-sa-thereen which-maybe attached atoneend to theplate 27' by means of" the bolt 4 and may be attached at theother end to the extensionor log 41). In this manner-a rigid-box-like-structure is proviuedwhich includes the lug 40; plate 27, arms25'- and 26 and the brace member 55. The Z-braces may also beused in thecase of very: light transfbrmers supported on" a single-rack, i I

It will be understood that the Z braces may-Be omitted in the case ofmedium weighttransrormers'; even though the transformer bolts are spacedfar apartas shown at the right of Figure 2. On the other hand, inthe-caseofextra heavy-transformers wliich are provided with tour bolts:(two u per and" two lower-) instead Of tw' bolts 43 i 44:.as preyiouslydescribed, there; is provided, as

zontally spaced holes. thereth r oug'h torec'eive the trans'-' formerbolts;

Broadly; the. invention contemplates one ormo'r'eracks which; may besuitably affixed to" a suitable poteand adjustable as tO'SlZBitO fitvario'us situations While the: invention has} been described and claimedin connection with the. support of: transformers, it-is te 'beunderstcodathar other objects of substantial weight may andthe: claimsareto. be; so construed;

What is claimed is:

14- A; transformer cluster rack for supporting" trans formers; on poles.comprising. a plurality of strapiron arcu'ateimembers, to'fita-boutthepole, the ends of each member. being bentoutwardly from thearcuatepole-pdrtion, bolts joining the ends to clamp the members-aboutthe-pole, adjustable means: to tighten the bolts and lock them. to thepole, a support arm. extending laterally from at. least: one off saidmembers, a! transformer supporting member'connectedrto the outer ends:ofsaid support to which a-. transformer may be atfixed', a lug extendingfrom each; member. having a support arm to engage against the pole,each;ofsaid lugs'extending'from its strap member at right angles-to; thedirection of elongation of the strap membenandj at: rightrangles to thedirectionofi' extension of the. support arm from its: strap member, and:a brace connected at! one: end. to. said transformer support arm and;at-itsiother end to thezlug. of the member from which.the;-support armextends 'to'suppor tsaid arm- 2. A transformer cluster. rack comprising:a'- plurality of arcuate straps adapted+t0= fit around a pole, eachstrap having aperturedioutturned ears onthe ends thereof,v an outwardly,extending arm; on art-least one of: said straps,- each; arm cumprisingetwin spacedi apertured platcs located;

be secured. to thecluster r'aclc for support from poles,

between said ears, means on each arm to support a transformer, boltspassing through each adjacent pair of said ears, the apertures in theplate being sufiiciently large to receive said bolts, the axes of saidbolts being aligned with the apertures in adjacent plates, whereby whensaid straps are secured to a small diameter pole the ends of said boltscan extend through the apertures in said plates, and a nut on at leastone end of each of said bolts to secure said straps together.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which there is additionally a pair ofnuts on each of said bolts behind the ears on each strap to back up theears when the straps are adjusted to fit poles of such diameter as toleave space between adjacent pairs of cars of adjacent straps.

4. A transformer cluster rack comprising a plurality of arcuate bodiesadapted to fit around a pole, each body having apertured outturned earson the ends thereof, an outwardly-extending arm on at least one of saidbodies, a vertically extending plate on each arm, said verticallyextending plate having upper and lower vertically spaced aperturestherethrough, an apertured vertically extending lug on each body, eachof said lugs extending from its body at right angles to the direction ofelongation of the body and at right angles to the direction of extensionof the arm from said body, and a brace of generally Z- shape connectedat one end to the lower end of each plate and at its other end to thelug on the adjacent body.

5. A transformer cluster rack comprising a plurality of arcuate bodiesadapted to fit around a pole, each body having apertured outturned earson the ends thereof, an outwardly extending arm on at least one of saidbodies, a vertically extending plate on each arm, said verticallyextending plate having upper and lower vertically spaced aperturestherethrough, an apertured vertically extending lug on each body, eachof said lugs extending from its body at right angles to the direction ofelongation of the body and at right angles to the direction of extensionof the arm from said body, and a second vertically extending platebolted to said first plate, the second plate being longer than saidfirst plate and having two pairs of upper and lower vertically spacedapertures therein, the first of said pair of apertures being spaced thesame as those in the first said plate and the second said pair ofapertures being spaced farther apart.

6. A transformer cluster rack comprising a plurality of arcuate bodiesadapted to fit around a pole, each body having apertured outturned earson the ends thereof, an outwardly extending arm on at least one of saidbodies, a vertically extending plate on each arm, said verticallyextending plate having upper and lower vertically spaced aperturestherethrough, an apertured vertically extending lug on each body, eachof said lugs extending from its body at right angles to the direction ofelongation of the body and at right angles to the direction of extensionof the arm from said body, and a horizontally extending plate havingthree horizontally spaced apertures therein and bolted to the verticallyextending plate through the central one of said three apertures.

7. Supporting means of the character described comprising a pole, spacedupper and lower sets of brackets, each bracket set including a pluralityof arcuate bodies fitting against the pole peripheral surface, eacharcuate body having outwardly bent ends, means connecting the adjacentoutwardly bent ends of the respective arcuate bodies and securing thearcuate bodies against the pole, spaced, substantially alignedoutwardly-extending arms carried by at least one of the arcuate bodiesof each bracket set, said arms being positioned between said bent ends,a member connected to the outer ends of said arms and bridging the spacebetween them, the member bridging the space between the arms of thearcuate member of the upper bracket set having an opening thereinlocated horizontally above the level of the means connecting theoutwardly bent ends of the arcuate bodies of said set to secure saidbodies to the pole, and the member bridging the outer ends of the armsof the lower bracket set having an opening therein located horizontallybelow the level of the means connected to the outwardly bent ends of thearcuate bodies of said lower set to secure said bodies to the pole, atransformer mounted on both said brackets, and members passing throughsaid openingsin said bridging members of the upper and lower bracketsets and supporting said transformer.

8. Supporting means as set forth in claim 7 in which each of said armshas an opening spaced inwardly from its inner and outer ends andelongated in the direction of the outward extension of said arms tofacilitate deformation of the arcuate bodies when being secured to polesof difierent diameters.

9. Supporting means of the character described comprising a pole, spacedupper and lower sets of brackets, each bracket set including a pluralityof arcuate bodies fitting against the pole peripheral surface, eacharcuate body having outwardly-extending ends, means connecting theadjacent outwardly-extending ends of the respective bodies and securingthe bodies to the pole, an outwardly-extending arm carried by at leastone of the arcuate bodies of each bracket set, said arms beingpositioned between said outwardly-extending ends of the respectivearcuate bodies :and being substantially aligned in a vertical directionand an attaching plate at the outer ends of each of said arms, atransformer, mechanical connections between said attaching plates andthe transformer securing the transformer to the respective attachingplates for support therefrom, the mechanical connection between thetransformer and the attaching plate of the upper bracket set beinglocated horizontally above the level of the means connecting theoutwardly-extending arms of the arcuate bodies of said upper bracket setto clamp the arcuate bodies of that set to the pole, the mechanicalconnection between the transformer and the attaching plate of the lowerbracket set being located horizontally below the level of the meansconnecting the outwardly-extending arms of the arcuate bodies of saidlower bracket set to clamp the bodies of that set to the pole wherebythe transformer exerts a force on arcuate bodies of the respectivebracket sets from which it is supported tending to force the lower edgeof said arcuate bodies against the pole.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

